What Went Well
Team Compensation by Vera Peeters and Yves Hanoulle: I attended the rehearsal session by Vera and was ‘WOWed’ by the excellent use of Playmobil to illustrate the impact of a maladjusted reward system on team behaviour. This session is a definite MUST-SEE workshop if you get the chance!
Coaching Self Organisating Teams by Joseph [...]

‘Twas the night before Geekmas…
‘Happy Geekmas Eve!’ said Portia and Pascal.
‘What’s Geekmas Eve?’ I hear you gasp with anticipation.

Geekmas Eve marks the official day before the launch of the latest version of the Real Options Space Game. It’s an auspicious day when species gather from around the galaxy to marvel at the folly of humankind.
‘Can [...]

‘SimBlogging‘ offers a his and hers viewpoint as Pascal and Portia timebox-blog simultaneously
“Fun, Learning, Sharing, Smiles and Laughter”
These five words best describe my first and last impressions of XP Days Benelux 2008.
The conference opened with a warm welcome from the organisers Pascal Van Cauwenberghe, Vera Peeters, Nicole Belilos and me. Next up were Day 1 [...]

Conversation overheard in a galactic corridor
(At an Agile conference in a galaxy near you)
A: I am Agamemnon the Agile.
P: That’s nice for you.
A: I am Leader of the Alliance.
P: There are many alliances.
A: Join us.
P: Thanks, but I prefer to keep my options open.
What are Real Options?
Real Options is a decision-making process for managing uncertainty [...]

‘SimBlogging‘ offers a his and hers viewpoint as Pascal and Portia timebox-blog simultaneously
What Went Well
Journey to Arizona: My AYE adventure started at Terminal 5 where I met up with Pascal to fly to Phoenix, Arizona. Thanks to Julie, a Senior Customer Service Agent from British Airways, we both got upgraded to World Traveller Plus. I’ve [...]

Last night saw the largest gathering ever to attend Mirror, Mirror on the Wall… Why Me?, an Agile Fairytale session on improving personal effectiveness, created by adults for everyone. More than 20 people converged to learn how to create their own happy endings on Day 2 of the AYE Conference in sunny Phoenix, Arizona.
Rediscovering the [...]

If I could only attend one Agile conference this year, it would have to be XP Days Benelux 2008 because:

It’s created by Agilistas for Agilistas.
It attracts genuine practitioners of Agile.
It’s organised in an Agile way.
First time speakers are given priority over more well-known or experienced presenters to encourage knowledge and experience sharing within the [...]

At an Agile Conference
Agilista: A top Agile presenter always has a ‘thing’.
P.: Really? Like some kind of disease perhaps?
Agilista: (Rolls his eyes) No, something that makes them special.
P.: Ah. (Long pause) I tell Agile Fairytales.
Agilista: I’m being serious you know.
P.: So am I.

Agile Fairytales Hits the Mainstream
This Tuesday evening marked another of Agile Firsts. It [...]

‘No one enjoys their job as much as you do. You have way too much fun.’
- Grumpy
Agile Games Day
This Monday marked the day of yet another of Agile Firsts. It was the first time in Agile history that the XP Game and Business Value Game were played, back to back, in a single day, at [...]

‘To some, responsibility is a burden. To others, responsibility is a reward. For many, responsibility means having someone to point to.’
- Christopher Avery
It was great to finally meet Christopher Avery at the Agile Business Conference this Wednesday. His presentation on the Responsibility Model, delivered in person, was every bit as insightful and entertaining as I [...]